Senior / Principal Town Planner

Mott MacDonald; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contributions match

Life assurance 4x salary

Income protection

Flexible benefits

Annual bonus

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Senior or Principal Town Planner to help grow the Manchester office and lead planning projects across a range of sectors. The role focuses on developing client relationships, delivering consents, and mentoring junior planners within a multi-disciplinary environment.

You will work with local authorities and major clients, contributing to strategic advice, bid development, and delivery of complex infrastructure and regeneration schemes in the city region.

Qualifications

• Degree/Masters in Town Planning or equivalent.
• Experience leading planning projects and teams.
• Chartered RTPI member or eligible.

Responsibilities

• Deliver planning projects across sectors including rail, housing, regeneration.
• Lead preparation and submission of planning applications and consents.
• Mentor junior staff and drive growth of the Manchester team.
• Engage with Local Planning Authorities and stakeholders to secure approvals.

Skills

Town Planning

Stakeholder liaison

Team leadership

Multi-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Degree and/or Masters in Town Planning

Job description

Location/s: Manchester, Leeds, Altrincham, Liverpool; UK

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

About the division

Environmental and social considerations are central to Mott MacDonald’s Purpose and its offerings across all sectors and territories. Our environment and social business provides essential services and innovative solutions which anticipate our clients' needs across all sectors.

Overview of the role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and capable Senior or Principal Town Planner, who is up to the challenge of growing and developing a team of Town Planners ideally at our office in the heart of Manchester. WE also have offices in Altrincham, Leeds and Liverpool, so candidates with a preference for these offices will also be considered. You will be responsible for growing our presence within the Manchester market, developing relationships with colleagues across the business, with a particular focus on developing links within your city region.

We are seeking a driven individual to support us in the delivery of a range of major projects. To support and grow our capabilities in providing strategic advice and securing planning approvals across a range of sectors, including rail, defence, energy generation, energy and water infrastructure, climate resilience, education, health, housing, employment, mixed-use regeneration and waste focused schemes.

You will be working alongside the full range of technical disciplines Mott MacDonald offers on some of the largest, most complex and exciting infrastructure and development projects in the UK. These will cover multiple sectors including energy, water, transport and the built and natural environment, for clients including Network Rail, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), United Utilities, National Highways, National Grid, Environment Agency, NHS, Government Departments such as the Department for Education (DfE) and a range of local authorities.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Working as part of the planning team to deliver a range of planning projects, including working alongside and potentially project managing other disciplines as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Writing and reviewing planning deliverables to a very high standard. This includes high level options appraisals, developing and producing consenting strategies, planning policy preparation, providing clear and accurate consenting advice, preparing and reviewing documents for planning applications, TWAOs, DCOs and other consents
• Responsible for leading the preparation and co-ordination of planning applications, including managing the inputs from more junior members of staff, colleagues from across the business and sub-consultants
• Liaising with Local Planning Authorities / Statutory Consultees as necessary to ensure applications are registered and determined within a timely manner
• Preparing inputs and potentially leading bids for new work
• Supporting more junior members of staff in their chartership and professional development
• Developing and driving the implementation of a growth strategy for the Manchester team, liaising with each of the relevant account leads to align with existing growth strategies for the business

Candidate specification

Requirements:

• Degree and/or Masters in Town Planning
• Extensive town planning experience across a range of consenting types, including the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Development Consent Order and Transport and Works Act Order processes
• Chartered Member of the RTPI
• Experience of leading the preparation and submission of planning applications, drafting reports, feasibility studies, masterplans and regeneration strategies
• Experience of working with a range of client bodies including both private sector and public sector
• Previous experience of, and having an active role in the delivery of varied infrastructure, regeneration and environmental projects
• Experience in overseeing, and/or project managing multidisciplinary projects
• Experience of supporting, managing or mentoring more junior members of the team
• Experience of team working to support the delivery of projects
• Experience of financial accountability for projects and delivery of projects within budget

If you meet 80% or more of what we’re looking for, please still apply. We understand not everyone will meet all the requirements, but you might have skills we didn’t know we need.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at [e-mail] and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high- street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.